Arsenal 4-1 Bolton

[jayjay23]

Coyle will be have to be a very brave man if he is to name a 4-4-2 formation.

I'd go with 4-5-1

Bogdan
Steinsson
Cahill
Knight
Robinson
Lee
Muamba
Holden
Petrov
Taylor
Davies

I can only see a loss. 3-0 to them.

If all you can see with that team is a 3-0 loss why not try a different approach. If we try to play for 0-0 or keep the score down we are definately coming away with nothing. To me that means our only option is to give them something to think about instead at the other end of the park They will be expecting a defensive Bolton. They will preapare for that. Give them a shock. If it doesnt work and we lose anyway then no harm done really. May as well try?

[dh1985]

If we play anything other than 451, Arsenal will cut through us like butter. Forget 'giving them a shock', they won't believe their luck. Fabregas, Nasri and Diaby etc will have Muamba and Holden chasing shadows for 90 minutes. At least if we get an extra body in there we'll make it difficult for them. If we can keep it at 0-0 for as long as possible, but still have an attacking intent which is where we fell down with Megson, then we will always have a chance.

[jayjay23]

Following on from that -

We need to have a go at Arsenal. If we can put them on the back foot we might have them in a bit of a panic against us. This will only lead to more gaps for us to exploit. It will be suicide to go there and defend.

Bogdan
Ricketts Cahill Knight Robinson
Muamba
Blake Holden MDavies
Elmander Moreno

[/b]

Yes, it may not be perfect, it may backfire. But it will be unexpected, and if it does give them something to think about we may actually come away with something!

We can still have Lee, Taylor, Davies, Petrov on the bench anyway for if things start to crumble.

Picture this, the tie is finely balanced at 1-1 or so with 15 mins to go. How much collective sh1t will they do when they see Davies Petrov and Lee all coming on to win the game after spending 75 mins chasing after that speedy young lad Moreno. I bet he could do a job for us.

(In fact - another little prediction of mine - when Moreno has had one or two games for us many of you will realise what we have really really been lacking up front all of this time. You may say now that he is probably not ready but just wait til you see him on the pitch - I said the same about Wilshere when so many were questioning why a young kid should come in and take Taylors place - my words were something along the lines of "once you see him in a Bolton shirt you will suddenly realise the gulf between our set of players and the quality of what a real premiership player would be like"- I said that immediately after seeing him play the difference would be blatent for everybody to see. I think the same will happen with this guy.)

[Didledee]

              Jaaskelainen

Steinsson Cahill Knight Robinson
                
                 Muamba

Lee     M.Davies   Cohen     Taylor

                 K.Davies

That was the team that went 2-0 up last season at the emirates, before Jussi made 2 errors and the ref didn't show Gallas a straight red card for his dirty tackle on M.Davies.

It will be similar I reckon this time, but with Petrov instead of Taylor and Holden instead of Cohen, and Bogdan in for suspended Jussi.

[dh1985]

Ok, starter for ten. Where and against whom do Arsenal usually come unstuck? Against tough tackling, physical, imposing teams who don't let Arsenal play their football e.g. Stoke and Blackburn. It doesn't happen all the time, but it happens more than most of the 'lesser' teams. Say what you like about the 'suprise' factor but I can guarantee that Wenger would be jumping for joy if we played that team Saturday, as would his centre halves.

I know the majority of us want to move way from our previous reliance on Davies, and I do too. However, like when we played West Ham, I would not consider starting the match Saturday without Davies. Vermahlen is not a tall CB; their new guy has not looked convincing and they have signed another player from France. Davies will dominate them. He can still do a job against that type of defender. Hangeland has him in his back pocket all day long as he refuses to get bullied by Kev. Arsenal on the otherhand.....

I'm sure Rodrigo will do well for us and his pace will be a useful asset in a many a game. Hell, if we're ahead on Saturday with ten minutes to go, I might welcome him coming on for Petrov perhaps to stretch the game. However, the game to start him is not Saturday against one of the best teams in the league. You try and beat Arsenal by playing football, unless you're Chelsea or Man Utd, you will lose.

You have to disrupt their passing, press them quickly and not let them impose their style on the game. We try and pass their way through them, although it may be a suprise, it will be a very welcome one. We hit it long to Davies on the otherhand, and get players in around him for the second balls, as we did so effectively under Allardyce, then we have a chance of an upset. Not a good chance mind, but a lot better than any chance we'd have playing your team in my humble opinion.

 

[Didledee]

Van Persie is out for 6 week, bit of good news.

[Howfen White]

Van Persie is out for 6 week, bit of good news.

I would be surprised otherwise. When is this joke NOT injured?

[Didledee]

Walcott just stretchered off for England, twisted his ankle.

[Natasha Whittam]

Ok, starter for ten. Where and against whom do Arsenal usually come unstuck? Against tough tackling, physical, imposing teams who don't let Arsenal play their football e.g. Stoke and Blackburn. It doesn't happen all the time, but it happens more than most of the 'lesser' teams. Say what you like about the 'suprise' factor but I can guarantee that Wenger would be jumping for joy if we played that team Saturday, as would his centre halves.

I know the majority of us want to move way from our previous reliance on Davies, and I do too. However, like when we played West Ham, I would not consider starting the match Saturday without Davies. Vermahlen is not a tall CB; their new guy has not looked convincing and they have signed another player from France. Davies will dominate them. He can still do a job against that type of defender. Hangeland has him in his back pocket all day long as he refuses to get bullied by Kev. Arsenal on the otherhand.....

I'm sure Rodrigo will do well for us and his pace will be a useful asset in a many a game. Hell, if we're ahead on Saturday with ten minutes to go, I might welcome him coming on for Petrov perhaps to stretch the game. However, the game is not Saturday against one of the best teams in the league. You try and beat Arsenal by playing football, unless you're Chelsea or Man Utd, you will lose.

You have to disrupt their passing, press them quickly and not let them impose their style on the game. We try and pass their way through them, although it may be a suprise, it will be a very welcome one. We hit it long to Davies on the otherhand, and get players in around him for the second balls, as we did so effectively under Allardyce, then we have a chance of an upset. Not a good chance mind, but a lot better than any chance we'd have playing your team in my humble opinion.

 

All that is true, but if the team is going to give up after going a goal down as they often did last season it's all pointless. I fully expect to lose, but I am hoping to see more fight on the pitch. That alone will stop a drubbing.

[dh1985]

We showed spirit against Birmingham to come from behind. I'll admit that is a one off as it stands but it's progress on last season.

Hope Walcott has broke his ankle. Twisting it might not keep him out Sat.

[londonwhites88]

Does anyone want a ticket? I have a spare

[traf]

No thanks, mate. I'm off clay pigeon shooting with the Dalai Lama, but fair play for offering.

[Diana Prince]

No thanks, mate. I'm off clay pigeon shooting with the Dalai Lama, but fair play for offering.

Tell him to wear a totector this time though. The silly sod can't be doing extreme sports in a flip flop, holy bloke or not!

[traf]

It's OK, he's aware of the dangers this time after breaking a toe playing kabaadi with me & Joe Longthorn last month.

[Diana Prince]

It's OK, he's aware of the dangers this time after breaking a toe playing kabaadi with me & Joe Longthorn last month.

I think Joe calls it British bulldog though doesn't he?

[Didledee]

I already went for a 1-0 win to Bolton, but without Van Persie, no doubt Walcott and Nasri, has anyone changed their mind and fancy us now or a draw?

They still have class players like Fabregas and Arshavin, but these injuries should give us a better chance.

[Big_Sharps]

It's OK, he's aware of the dangers this time after breaking a toe playing kabaadi with me & Joe Longthorn last month.

Is Kabaadi here illegally?

[colmacca]

looks like WALCOTT could be missing at the weekend,if his injury is as bad as it looked on TV tonight   :-)

[traf]

Is Kabaadi here illegally?

Yes, but Madonna wanted to adopt it until she realised it was just a game of tig and not some African waif.

[jayjay23]

I injured Walcott and Van Persie.

How?

By picking them for my fantasy team. It always happens when I pick a player who I think will socre highly.
Walcott V Robinson. I think we may have been spared a few blushes.


*************

And to Dh - I appreciate your points and can see the logic. Also you said you would have a go with Moreno if we are winning with ten mins left. What if we are losing? I think that would be prime time to spring the trap. Hit the ball up to Davies head it into a gap, hope Rodrigo's pace gets him through... ? Non?

[texan dave II]

Bolton 2 - 1 Cahill Petrov for us
The little Russian for them

[Howfen White]

Official site says Rodrigo is 'in the squad', does this mean he's available for selection or he's on the bench?

[Manny]

They usually name a squad of 21 that will travel and then name 18 on the team sheet.

[Batman]

Official site says Rodrigo is 'in the squad', does this mean he's available for selection or he's on the bench?

He'll travel down with the squad, but won't play yet.

[Didledee]

Vermaelen out now for Arsenal.